Cheap suits - how to look good for £100?
Discussion
SaulGoodman said:
If there's a Slaters Menswear near you go along, tell them your budget and let them help you pick out something. They have a wide range and the service is good. They should be able to help with what's best for your shape. Also, they'll measure you properly which can help if you start looking 2nd hand "pre-loved" stuff. That's much easier when you know what fits.
Another vote for Slaters. One of my children needed a cheap suit. We found one on the sale rail, Slaters tailored it to fit and it cost me £80.Louis Balfour said:
SaulGoodman said:
If there's a Slaters Menswear near you go along, tell them your budget and let them help you pick out something. They have a wide range and the service is good. They should be able to help with what's best for your shape. Also, they'll measure you properly which can help if you start looking 2nd hand "pre-loved" stuff. That's much easier when you know what fits.
Another vote for Slaters. One of my children needed a cheap suit. We found one on the sale rail, Slaters tailored it to fit and it cost me £80.
£100 is a push for a suit, it would be a push for a decent quality jacket and pair of trousers to be honest, the problem cheap suits have isn't just the cut but the material they are made from, if you can find one that doesn't look like it's made of nasty cheap nylon your laughing. The other problem is trousers wear out faster than jackets so unless you can order 2/3 pairs of trousers at the same time you end up stick with a load of old suit jackets that don't go with anything.
Not sure if it's a look your comfortable with, but there is a reason the sports jacket works well, you can buy a nice quality one that you wouldn't mind wearing to non work events, pair it with shirts and tie for work and dress it up and down with trousers which can be easily replaced without scrapping the jacket. If you don't mind a sports jacket and you won't be the odd one out at work / not be allowed, then long term it will save you money and the misery of wearing crap suits.
wildoliver said:
Louis Balfour said:
SaulGoodman said:
If there's a Slaters Menswear near you go along, tell them your budget and let them help you pick out something. They have a wide range and the service is good. They should be able to help with what's best for your shape. Also, they'll measure you properly which can help if you start looking 2nd hand "pre-loved" stuff. That's much easier when you know what fits.
Another vote for Slaters. One of my children needed a cheap suit. We found one on the sale rail, Slaters tailored it to fit and it cost me £80.£100 is a push for a suit, it would be a push for a decent quality jacket and pair of trousers to be honest, the problem cheap suits have isn't just the cut but the material they are made from, if you can find one that doesn't look like it's made of nasty cheap nylon your laughing. The other problem is trousers wear out faster than jackets so unless you can order 2/3 pairs of trousers at the same time you end up stick with a load of old suit jackets that don't go with anything.
Not sure if it's a look your comfortable with, but there is a reason the sports jacket works well, you can buy a nice quality one that you wouldn't mind wearing to non work events, pair it with shirts and tie for work and dress it up and down with trousers which can be easily replaced without scrapping the jacket. If you don't mind a sports jacket and you won't be the odd one out at work / not be allowed, then long term it will save you money and the misery of wearing crap suits.
I am a bit interested in suiting and have mine made bespoke, so I am fairly au fait with when a suit is OK. No, they are not made of the finest cloth, but they are good enough for growing youths.
Another vote for Matalan as I found when pennies were tight and I needed a suit asap (wedding, not jail, shush at the back).
But:
The cut suited me - so shop around.
I failed to buy two pairs of trouser, so as above, have trousers that are a) a bit tight on the waist and b) a bit shiny on the bum.
As others have suggested, charity shops, Asda/Matalan/Next. Even M&S. Just don't get anything too fashionable. Classic style lasts. Fashion changes.
But:
The cut suited me - so shop around.
I failed to buy two pairs of trouser, so as above, have trousers that are a) a bit tight on the waist and b) a bit shiny on the bum.
As others have suggested, charity shops, Asda/Matalan/Next. Even M&S. Just don't get anything too fashionable. Classic style lasts. Fashion changes.
Last year for my nieces summer wedding I bought a lightweight suit from Matalan for £25!
It was in the sale online and I am a common size (40R, 34R) and it fitted superbly.
The shirt and tie to go with it were more expensive
I wore it again with different shirt and tie for her sister's wedding in June this year.
Also picked up 2 M&S suits from Vinted as they were so cheap (£15 each, both 3 piece).
One turned out to be a lot shinier than the photos looked so will just re-advertise but the other looks hardly worn and fits perfectly. It will be my future winter wedding/funeral/court appearance/interview suit
It was in the sale online and I am a common size (40R, 34R) and it fitted superbly.
The shirt and tie to go with it were more expensive
I wore it again with different shirt and tie for her sister's wedding in June this year.
Also picked up 2 M&S suits from Vinted as they were so cheap (£15 each, both 3 piece).
One turned out to be a lot shinier than the photos looked so will just re-advertise but the other looks hardly worn and fits perfectly. It will be my future winter wedding/funeral/court appearance/interview suit
I need a black suit for a fancy dress party I'm attending as Blues Brothers. Don't reckon I'd wear it ever again so thought I'd try Vinted. Being a 52" chest makes off the peg difficult.
I've bought a few different suit jackets from Vinted but non of then were right, they either weren't actually black, had pinstripes (not visible on photos) etc or weren't the size specified. One size 52 jacket was actually I Childs size! I've had to give them all to charity shops.
I've since ordered some jackets & trousers from Next and M&S which I.m collecting today, if they fit then I'm having to pay about £120 which for a one ff event is a but pricy.
I've bought a few different suit jackets from Vinted but non of then were right, they either weren't actually black, had pinstripes (not visible on photos) etc or weren't the size specified. One size 52 jacket was actually I Childs size! I've had to give them all to charity shops.
I've since ordered some jackets & trousers from Next and M&S which I.m collecting today, if they fit then I'm having to pay about £120 which for a one ff event is a but pricy.
The Gauge said:
I need a black suit for a fancy dress party I'm attending as Blues Brothers. Don't reckon I'd wear it ever again so thought I'd try Vinted. Being a 52" chest makes off the peg difficult.
I've bought a few different suit jackets from Vinted but non of then were right, they either weren't actually black, had pinstripes (not visible on photos) etc or weren't the size specified. One size 52 jacket was actually I Childs size! I've had to give them all to charity shops.
I've since ordered some jackets & trousers from Next and M&S which I.m collecting today, if they fit then I'm having to pay about £120 which for a one ff event is a but pricy.
You probably would have been better off renting something - or as its a one off just heading to Asda/Sainsburys for one of theirs - asda go to a 50R but tend to be giving, saisburys upto a 52R (via Jacamo) ... or even just head to Jacamo directI've bought a few different suit jackets from Vinted but non of then were right, they either weren't actually black, had pinstripes (not visible on photos) etc or weren't the size specified. One size 52 jacket was actually I Childs size! I've had to give them all to charity shops.
I've since ordered some jackets & trousers from Next and M&S which I.m collecting today, if they fit then I'm having to pay about £120 which for a one ff event is a but pricy.
The Gauge said:
I need a black suit for a fancy dress party I'm attending as Blues Brothers. Don't reckon I'd wear it ever again so thought I'd try Vinted. Being a 52" chest makes off the peg difficult.
I've bought a few different suit jackets from Vinted but non of then were right, they either weren't actually black, had pinstripes (not visible on photos) etc or weren't the size specified. One size 52 jacket was actually I Childs size! I've had to give them all to charity shops.
I've since ordered some jackets & trousers from Next and M&S which I.m collecting today, if they fit then I'm having to pay about £120 which for a one ff event is a but pricy.
No doubt which of the brothers you are representing.I've bought a few different suit jackets from Vinted but non of then were right, they either weren't actually black, had pinstripes (not visible on photos) etc or weren't the size specified. One size 52 jacket was actually I Childs size! I've had to give them all to charity shops.
I've since ordered some jackets & trousers from Next and M&S which I.m collecting today, if they fit then I'm having to pay about £120 which for a one ff event is a but pricy.
Why just a one-off? A black suit is always worth keeping for funerals.
Whilst there are deals to be had here there and everywhere, it is worth noting that products sold in H&M, TK Maxx and outlet villages are designed and made specifically for those outlets. They are almost never 'last season's styles' like some people would have you believe. I put many of their sourcing and production planning systems in. 
Nobody who is in to suits really ever buys, or has made, a plain black suit because they are the quickest way to making yourself look like a school kid. That’s why most suits sold in that colour have some kind of extra feature to ensure that you look like an adult
Edited by craigjm on Sunday 1st December 11:29
Baldchap said:
Whilst there are deals to be had here there and everywhere, it is worth noting that products sold in H&M, TK Maxx and outlet villages are designed and made specifically for those outlets. They are almost never 'last season's styles' like some people would have you believe. I put many of their sourcing and production planning systems in.
Indeed. Shops have been bringing in lower quality stock for the January sales since, well, probably since January sales started. The likes of Bicester Village outlet stores have a lot of "made for outlet" stock amongst some genuine last season stuff and shop soiled. So they are just doing the same thing year-round.
Since this thread started I have been reminded how good Slaters is for the cost-conscious suit buyer. Not only do they sell cheap suits, they offer good advice and will alter the suit FOC - sometimes on the spot. You don't get that level of service when buying online and having suits shipped to store with Next and the like. The alterations part is probably the biggest win in that package.
As someone who only occasionally wears suits, I've bought almost all of mine from Slaters. They really do help making a budget suit look good by measuring properly and altering where needed FOC.
It's also helpful for the clueless shopper like myself to get an almost "personal shopper" experience where they can assist with getting matching shirts and ties to complement the suit.
It's also helpful for the clueless shopper like myself to get an almost "personal shopper" experience where they can assist with getting matching shirts and ties to complement the suit.
White-Noise said:
This might be a silly question but what is the dress code? Albeit some decades back when I was in school I can definitely remember some teachers not wearing suits, maybe a jumper with some trousers. I am really not a fan of wearing suits so that's where my head went straight away.
After half the school year I would hope the OP has figured out what to wear by now. sherman said:
White-Noise said:
This might be a silly question but what is the dress code? Albeit some decades back when I was in school I can definitely remember some teachers not wearing suits, maybe a jumper with some trousers. I am really not a fan of wearing suits so that's where my head went straight away.
After half the school year I would hope the OP has figured out what to wear by now. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff